UN warns Rafah attack would be ‘nail in coffin’ of Gaza aid as deliveries halve

Amount reaching starving territory dropped 50% in February despite severe shortages of basic necessities

• Middle East crisis – live updates

The amount of aid reaching Gaza fell by half in February from the month before, the UN has said, as its secretary general, António Guterres, warned that an Israeli assault on Rafah would be “the nail in the coffin” of deliveries to the starving territory.

“February registered a 50% reduction of humanitarian aid entering Gaza compared to January,” Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said in a statement on X. “Aid was supposed to increase not decrease to address the huge needs of 2 million Palestinians in desperate living conditions.”